Egypt Daily News – During the inaugural meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, Egypt and Turkey formalized their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties by signing several memoranda of understanding.
These agreements aim to enhance collaboration across a variety of sectors and to broaden the existing legal frameworks governing their relations.
The meeting underscored the historical friendship and shared values between the two nations, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect, collaborative efforts, and alignment with the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
This initiative reflects both countries’ desire to deepen their partnership and coordinate more effectively on various regional and global issues.
The joint announcement to restructure the Strategic Cooperation Council between Turkey and Egypt signifies a renewed commitment to enhancing bilateral relations, particularly as they approach the centenary of their diplomatic ties in 2025. Both nations are expressing their intention to elevate their collaboration across various sectors while ensuring that mutual interests and solidarity guide their partnership.
In light of their shared objectives, they are focusing on fostering peace, prosperity, and stability not just within their own borders, but also in the broader region. Their commitment to the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter underscores their dedication to global governance and cooperation.
In addition to reinforcing bilateral ties, Turkey and Egypt aim to bolster their coordination in international forums, working together on pressing global challenges such as sustainable development, climate change, environmental protection, and food security. This collaboration emphasizes the critical role of economic cooperation in promoting social and economic advancements for both nations.
Ultimately, the restructuring of the Strategic Cooperation Council is poised to create a distinctive and fruitful economic partnership, facilitating mutual benefits and paving the way for a more secure and prosperous future for the peoples of Turkey and Egypt.
The joint announcement for the first meeting of the high-level Strategic Cooperation Council included several items, including:
1- Both parties welcome the signing of memoranda of understanding in the fields of finance, environment, urban development, health, energy, joint projects, agriculture, civil aviation, communications and information technology, higher education, labor and employment, cooperation and capacity building, railways, competition policies, and training of diplomats. They decide to enhance their joint efforts to diversify and deepen multifaceted cooperation and coordination between them by developing the existing bilateral legal framework in all areas as needed.
2- They request the “Joint Planning Group,” co-chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries, to begin working on enhancing bilateral relations between the two states in all fields, and for the group’s work to be approved at the upcoming “High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council” meeting.
3- They express their aspiration to increase the volume of bilateral trade to 15 billion US dollars by further enhancing economic and trade relations between the two parties and investing in the available opportunities.
4- They agree to continue developing the investment climate for entrepreneurs in their countries and to take the necessary measures in this regard to remove the obstacles faced by investors and companies on all sides, and to encourage new investments.
5- They reaffirm their aspiration to enhance foreign direct investments and express their desire to strengthen cooperation in the fields of industry and infrastructure.
6- They encourage bilateral cooperation in the fields of small projects and entrepreneurship by supporting young entrepreneurs to implement joint projects.
They express their commitment to promoting and increasing economic projects and joint investment opportunities in all fields with the aim of achieving productive and consumer integration, as well as exporting to other countries in Africa, Europe, and other parts of the world.
8- They encourage regular participation in trade fairs, conferences, and economic events such as forums, seminars, conferences, and workshops in both Turkey and Egypt, as well as the exchange of trade and business delegations between the two parties.
9- Reaffirming their readiness to continue political and diplomatic dialogue between the two countries, and to expand the scope of consultation in various fields such as military, security, and consular affairs.
10- They emphasize the importance of close cooperation in the field of energy and the development of dialogue regarding bilateral relations, joint projects, and investments, as well as supporting collaboration in the energy transition, specifically in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency based on the principle of mutual benefit.
11- They acknowledge the importance of bilateral cooperation on environmental issues, within the framework of international organizations of which both countries are members, with the aim of combating climate change, halting biodiversity loss, preventing desertification, land degradation, and other similar challenges.
12- They express their support for enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of civil aviation and encourage the relevant authorities to facilitate the procedures for operating airline routes, increase the number of flights, ease the operations of airlines, and contribute to diversifying air transport links by launching flights on new routes.
13- They agree to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of housing and urban planning.
14- They express the importance of deepening cooperation in the fields of labor, employment, and social security.
15- They agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of public policies, including the protection of women, families, children, individuals with disabilities, the elderly, and social assistance.
16- They express their aspiration to enhance cooperation in diplomatic training at both the bilateral and multilateral levels by signing a new memorandum of understanding between the diplomatic academies of the two countries, which will replace the previous memorandum of understanding from 2007.
17- They emphasize the cultural and historical ties between the two countries and agree to enhance their cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture, education, youth, and sports.
18- They express their intention to develop cooperation in the fields of media, communications, and combating misinformation.
19- They agree to explore opportunities for cooperation in the field of technical and vocational training.
20- They agree to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of healthcare and medical sciences.
21- They express their commitment to developing cooperation in various fields related to transportation, including maritime, air, and land transport.
22- They emphasize the importance of enhancing cooperation between the relevant authorities of both parties in order to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as to tackle transnational organized crime, including the smuggling of irregular migrants, human trafficking, and drug trafficking.
23- They express their commitment to enhancing cooperation to support multilateral efforts and to coordinate mutually beneficial positions in international and regional organizations, as well as to continue coordination and consultation between the two countries in these organizations and mutual support for nominations in international organizations whenever possible.
24- They express their aspiration for further enhancing consultations on regional issues, in addition to developing capacity building on the African continent.
25- They agree to continue close cooperation in international and regional organizations, including the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as to encourage further dialogue and cooperation between Turkey and the Arab League.
26- They reaffirm their intention to enhance cooperation within the framework of the “D8” group for economic cooperation.
27- In the face of the blatant and ongoing Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in Gaza, including the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure for the past 11 months, and the current humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza; they demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages and detainees, and the uninterrupted and unobstructed flow of humanitarian and medical aid to the Gaza Strip and all its areas, in accordance with Security Council resolutions. They also call for strong solidarity in the efforts to rebuild Gaza and the immediate restoration of peace in the region to prevent further escalation, expressing their readiness to enhance the level of coordination and cooperation between Turkey and Egypt to support efforts in addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
28 – They express deep concern regarding the illegal Israeli practices in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and condemn the Israeli settlement activities, settler violence, as well as the related inflammatory and provocative statements and the Israeli military incursions into Palestinian cities. They call on the international community to support the efforts of the Palestinian National Authority to lift and confront the Israeli restrictions, as well as the illegal policies and practices, while enabling it to fulfill its duties and responsibilities towards the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
29- They reaffirm their steadfast support for the demand to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent sovereign state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, while preserving the right of return for all Palestinian refugees. They also call on countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to take swift steps towards recognition; in this context, they reiterate the importance of initiatives related to the contact committee concerning Gaza, affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League.
30- They express their support for efforts aimed at achieving Palestinian unity, given its importance at this critical stage in the history of the Palestinian cause.
31- They reaffirm their joint commitment to achieving a lasting and comprehensive solution to the conflict in Syria in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254; they emphasize the importance of combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations in Syria, while stressing the significance of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; they also highlight the importance of humanitarian aid and early recovery projects for the Syrian people, and call on the international community to continue efforts at the level of health.
32- They affirm the importance of supporting the sovereignty and stability of Iraq, and express their support for its efforts towards development and reconstruction.
33- They affirm their aspiration to support a political process led and owned by Libyans, facilitated by the United Nations, with the aim of preserving Libya’s security, stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political unity.
34- They agree on the importance of ensuring peace, security, and stability in the Horn of Africa, maintaining good neighborly relations and friendship, as well as mutual respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country.
35- They express their regret and concern regarding the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has led to devastating humanitarian consequences across Sudan and the region. They welcome initiatives aimed at peacefully resolving the crisis and support joint diplomatic efforts in this context.
36- They affirm their determination to continue joint efforts to further strengthen relations in all fields, which derive their strength from deep-rooted bonds of friendship, in order to serve the interests of the two friendly and brotherly peoples and the entire region.
